The Stop Killing Games petition crossed one million signatures in July 2025, amid a public dispute involving developer Jason Hall, known online as PirateSoftware. The headline’s suggestion that Hall’s opposition helped the petition is an interpretation of the attention around that dispute—not a measured effect. The initiative later received 1,294,188 verified statements of support, according to the European Citizens’ Initiative’s official record.
What the one-million milestone—and the “one dev”—refer to
Windows Central reported on 3 July 2025 that the European Citizens’ Initiative had reached its one-million-signature goal. Its article identified Jason Hall, known as PirateSoftware, as the developer who criticized the campaign and discouraged people from signing. The article associated the ensuing dispute with increased attention for the petition, but it did not establish how many signatures, if any, that opposition generated. Windows Central’s 3 July 2025 report
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So “in partial thanks” is best read as the article’s explanation of the controversy’s possible role in drawing attention, not as a verified causal finding. There is no sourced figure for Hall’s effect on sign-ups.
Why the signature totals are different
One million was the campaign’s reported milestone in July 2025. After the signatures were checked, the initiative was submitted to the European Commission on 26 January 2026 with 1,294,188 verified statements of support. It met the minimum signature thresholds in 24 Member States. These figures refer to different stages: the first was a milestone reported during the campaign; the second is the official verified total at submission. European Citizens’ Initiative: “Stop Destroying Videogames”
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What Stop Killing Games wants to change
The petition’s formal title is “Stop Destroying Videogames.” Stop Killing Games describes its broader campaign as an effort to protect players when games become unplayable after publisher support or server access ends. The campaign argues that some games depend on central servers even for single-player content, and that shutting those servers can remove access. Its position is captured in its statement: “If you purchase a good, it shouldn’t self-destruct.” That is the campaign’s advocacy, not a ruling on the legal status of game purchases. Stop Killing Games
What the European Commission decided
On 16 June 2026, the Commission adopted its reply to the initiative. It said it could not, “at this stage,” propose a legal obligation requiring publishers to keep games playable after they stop being provided commercially. The response is not a new playability law, and the initiative’s submission does not itself enact one. European Commission reply
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Instead, the Commission set out several next steps:
- Begin an exchange with the video game industry and consumer representatives by the end of 2026, with the aim of drawing up an industry code of conduct for managing games’ end of life.
- Work with consumer organizations and authorities to raise awareness of applicable consumer rights.
- Report on how the Digital Content and Digital Services Directive is being applied before the end of 2026.
These commitments describe dialogue, awareness work, and reporting—not a guarantee that publishers must preserve access to every game.
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Who is behind the campaign
Stop Killing Games presents itself as a global campaign involving gamers, consumer advocates, and developers. Its website identifies Ross Scott as its founder and Moritz Katzner as General Director for European Affairs and U.S. Advisory. The site lists the European Citizens’ Initiative and legal action related to The Crew in France among its current work. Those descriptions come from the campaign itself. Stop Killing Games
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